Improvement in trace-carriers



C. B. BRISTOL. TRACE-CARRIER. ,No,186,983 Patented Feb.6, 1877.

N.PETERS. PMOT0-L|THOGRAPHEm WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES PATEN FFICE.

CHARLES E. BRISTOL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO W AND E. T. FITCH, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACE-CARRIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,983, dated February 6,1877; application filed December 30, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAS. B. BRISTOL, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Trace-Holders; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent,

Figure 1, a perspective view, and in Fig. 2

a longitudinal central section.

This invention relates to an improvement in what are known to the harness-trade as trace-holders--that is to say, the backstrap loop provided with a device to which the ends of the traces may be attached in unharnessing, and be held there when the harness is not in use; the object of the invention being to so positively engage the trace ends that they will not accidentally become detached.

The invention consists in a frame constructed for connection with the parts of a harness, combined with a transverse bar, pivoted at the center, and turning from a hearing at each side to the right and left, and with a spring which will hold the bar upon the said hearings in its normal condition, and allow of its being opened for the introduction of the traces, as more fully hereinafter described.

a a are the two sides, and b b the two ends, of the frame. From one side to the other extends a cross-bar, c, and from each side a post, d, extends upward. On the bar a, and preferably at the center, the turning or looking bar is pivoted. This bar is constructed with an enlarged center, f, chambered out on its under side, as seen in Fig. 2, and it is formed with a pivot, g, in one and the same piece with the bar-that is, the two arms c c, the center, and the pivot are all cast in one and the same piece. This pivot extends through the bar a, and is riveted upon the under side to hold the arms in place, and at the same time allow them to turn freely therewith. Within the chamber in the center f,

and around the pivot, a spring, h, is coiled or arranged, one arm of which extends outward, and in connection with the body or part f, as at 1;, the other, a, bearing against a lug, m, on the bar 0. Hence the tendency of this spring is at all times to force the two arms to bear, respectively, against the two posts 01 d, one upon one side and the other upon the other side, these posts forming a bearing, against which the arms 0 0 will rest when in their normal condition.

The central part f is constructed with a recess,1o, which rides over the lug m on the bar, and limits the extent to which the arms 6 8 may be turned, the end of the recess striking the lug m when it has been turned as far as necessary, and as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1. This completes the article.

In its application the back and crupper strap are attached, respectively, to the two ends I) b, and the hip-straps to the sides a (t. Then, when it is desired to attach the trace ends, the end is pressed against one of the arms 0 until it opens or turns away from the post d; then the end is passed over the post, and the arms automatically return, thus securing the trace end on its post, from which it may be removed by giving it a twist to open the spring-arms.

I do not wish to be understood as broadly claiming a trace-holder provided with a springlatch for securing trace ends in place, as such, I am aware, is not new; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described trace-holder, consisting of the frame constructed with the central hearing or support, and with the side bearings or posts, combined with a bar or arms, 6 e, hung substantially at the center, so that turning the one end turns the other, and a spring for holding the said arms in their normal condition, substantially as specified.

2. In a trace-holder, substantially such as described, in which the bar or arms cc are formed in one and the same piece with the pivot g, with which they turn, and by which they are secured to the frame, combined with a spring for automatically closing said arms, substantially as described.

3. Ina, trace-holder, substantially such as and a corresponding recess or shoulder, p, to described, in which the bar or arms 0 e are form a stop for the turning of the arms, subformcd in one and the same piece with the pivstantially as described.

0t g, with which they turn, and by which they CHAS. B. BRISTOL. are secured to the frame, combined with a Witnesses: spring for automatically closing said arms,.and JOHN E. EARLE,

a lug or stop, an, on thesupport for the arms, CLARA BROUGHTbN. 

